By Brennan Stebbins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
After five-straight seasons finishing second or better in Class 1, the Seneca wrestling team made the jump to Class 2 last winter.
The Indians still managed a fifth-place showing at the state tournament and were just seven-and-a-half points out of third place.
“It was a little bit of a transition getting used to things at state on the other side of the floor,” head coach Jeff Sill said. “The kids wrestled well and we expect to be competitive just year in and year out whether we’re Class 1 or Class 2.”
Seneca had seven state qualifiers last season and only two of them graduated – 220-pounder Skyleer Commons and 285-pounder Grant Durman. Commons finished 45-7 and placed fourth at state, while Durman was 42-13 and earned fifth.
“Not only were they seniors but they were hard workers, too, and we’re going to have to replace their leadership,” Sill said. “It’s always nice to have those guys to close out a dual with the big guys at the end of the order. We’re going to have to have some of the younger kids step up and step into their roles.”
The other five qualifiers all return this winter, and that group includes three medalists from last season. Sophomore Brady Roark went 48-3 and earned second at 106 pounds, junior Kendon Pollard was 44-6 and finished second at 120 pounds and senior Zane Cotten took fourth at 170 and finished 43-7. Additionally, junior Brayden Thiel qualified at 113 pounds and was 33-17, and junior Gabriel Commons qualified at 160 and was 41-15.
Pollard led that group with 34 falls and Cotten racked up 30. Roark earned five major decisions and three technical falls and Commons had four major decisions.
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“With Brady, he came up a little bit short at the state tournament but he’s put a lot of hard work and time in over the summer to turn that silver into gold,” Sill said. “It’ll be exciting for him to do that. Also Kendon Pollard came up a little bit short, too, and he’s been putting time in to do the same thing. We just need those guys to step up and lead our team, not only to be our highest state placers but people look up to them and how they work.”
“Brayden Thiel is new to wrestling but he’s done a great job and brings a little unique style to our team,” he said.
“Gabe Commons, his first time at state and I think he got a little bug-eyed but we got surprised a little bit in that first match and then he woke up and started wrestling after that. He’s seen his brother wrestle up at state and get a medal and I know that’s something he’s wanting to do. Zane Cotten is one of those kids that just does everything right all the time and you need those kids in your program and in the classroom and on the mat. He’ll be a good leader for us, a leader by example.”
And those aren’t the team’s only experienced wrestlers returning.
Senior Cole Whitehead wrestled at 126 last year and went 21-16; he’s been a state qualifier in the past and will fill in in the middle weights this year. Senior Clayton Swadley is another previous qualifier who was at 132 last year and went 32-16. Sophomore Lincoln Renfro (138) was 25-26 last season and finished a match shy of qualifying. Junior Dane Napier was also one match short of state; he was at 152 and finished 27-18.
Freshman Andrew Manley also looks to earn a spot in the lineup and will probably wrestle between 120 and 132.
Sill expects to fill every weight but 195 and 220.
“They know the program and what’s expected as a Seneca wrestler,” he said. “This year there’s some things, we just tell them to control what they can control. With all the other issues going on right now we’ve just really got to focus on doing what we’re supposed to be doing to stay healthy, to be able to wrestle. Doing the right thing and the smart thing.”
A young and growing Seneca girls program also enters the 2020-21 season with postseason aspirations.
The team finished last season with three wrestlers: senior Maggie Meyer (131), sophomore Liberty Cornell (131) and junior Kirsten Bruegel (136). Each of them posted winning records, with Meyer winning 11 matches, Cornell 14 and Bruegel going 15-1.
Bruegel was the girls’ team’s first state qualifier, too.
“She wrestled really good at state, just came up a little bit short,” Sill said. “She’s been to a couple camps and offseason things and I know she’s ready to get after it and get that medal, become the first state placer for the females. Liberty Cornell has put a lot of time in this summer, too. She has a younger brother that wrestles, she knows the sport really well and is eager to improve her season from last. Maggie Meyer is fairly new to wrestling, just started a couple years ago but has really improved and loves the sport.”
Sill expects three to five girls to wrestle this season, including freshman Isabella Renfro.
“Her whole family knows wrestling and has been around it,” he said. “We’re eager to see her compete and see what she can do at the high school level.”
